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Rock Candy is a delightful novella that centers on Jean and her new beau, the baker Hogan. Gikany and Una enjoyed this spooky seasonal read. How could you not enjoy a romantic tromp complete with a curse, zombie gnomes, and Death stopping by to visit?!?

Ms. Monk has created a unique and fascinating world set in Ordinary, Oregon. For fans of the series, you won’t want to miss this chance of seeing Ordinary from the youngest Reed sister’s eyes. Though Jean loves Halloween, there is one aspect that is trying – the October gnome-sitting. For some reason, there is a curse that brings the gnomes to life every October 1st through October 31st. It is always the responsibility of a Reed sister to ensure that the trouble the gnomes get into is minimized (if possible) and kept from the humans who are NOT in the know. However this Halloween, the curse is ramped up due to a zombie infection that is moving through the gnomes. Not to mention Death shows up partly for work (someone it seems will die) but also to experience the Halloween Harvest festival.

This novella was a riot to read. One of our favorite parts was the “five stages of zombie grief: denial, acceptance, hunger, more hunger, and knock-knock jokes.” It was priceless! Though the story moved quickly, we enjoyed how Jean chases down the (ahem) head gnome all while trying to figure out if this six-month dating anniversary with Hogan is a good milestone or an ominous one. Her inexperience with long-term relationships coupled with her own insecurities was heartening. Not only do we learn more about her personality, but also about her ability. We hope this is not the only story told from her point of view.

All in all, Rock Candy is a fabulous Halloween novella from the intriguing world of Ordinary, Oregon. It’s a must read for fans and would be a fun introduction to those that won’t mind some mild spoilers from the previous three novels. Gikany and Una eagerly await the next novel in the Ordinary Magic series.

Our Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot

About the Book:

Just An Ordinary Halloween…

Police officer Jean Reed doesn’t normally mind pulling the graveyard shift in Ordinary Oregon, the sleepy little beach town where gods vacation and monsters reside. But October in Ordinary is anything but normal. One mob of cursed gnomes, one haunted harbor festival, and one chilling visit from Death makes this October stranger than most.

But it’s Jean’s boyfriend, Hogan, who really has her flustered. With their six month anniversary ticking down to Halloween, she wonders if their time together is anything more than a casual fling. When she discovers Hogan has been keeping secrets, Jean must decide if their relationship has been nothing but a trick or if it’s been the one treat she’s always wished for.

This novella takes place after GODS AND ENDS, but can be read as a stand-alone.

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WELCOME to my blog! At That’s What I’m Talking About we discuss and review urban fantasy and all things romance, with some other fun topics tossed in. We welcome diverse romances and promoting #ownvoices authors. I hope you will stay and visit for a while!

While we attempt to keep our posts PG-13, the material reviewed and discussed is intended for adults (18 years and older). Please consider this if you choose to read and/or follow my blog. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Reading!

Jen Twimom

Disclaimer

About our reviews: The reviews posted here are the writer's own honest opinion of the book, not a judgement on the subject matter or author. We read for pleasure and at the request of authors and publishers. We do not receive compensation for our reviews, other than the copy of the book to read for the review. The source of the book is listed with each review. Please see our Disclosure Policy for more information.

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